VIEW Conference 2026 Trailblazer Award-Winners
In recognition of women’s work, VIEW Conference is proud to celebrate the unique stories of women from around the world, with this brand new set of industry awards.
The VIEW Conference “Trailblazer” Award shines a spotlight on a select group of professionals who have made an outstanding contribution to the motion picture industry. The award recognizes the achievements not only of outstanding creative directors and artists, but also those active in the fields of public relations and politics, who dedicate themselves to forging meaningful partnerships within the arts and beyond.
This year’s recipients of a VIEW Conference Trailblazer Award are:
• Maggie Kang – Oscar-winning director of Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation’s “KPop Demon Hunters”
• Yvett Merino – Oscar-winning producer of Disney’s “Encanto” and “Zootopia 2”
• Jinko Gotoh – Oscar-nominated producer, vice
• Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC – Oscar-winning cinematographer of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Sinners”
• Ruth De Jong – Oscar-nominated production designer of Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey”
• Alice Brooks, ASC – cinematographer of Universal Pictures’ “Wicked: For Good”
• Danielle Feinberg – award-winning cinematographe
• Tara DeMarco – VFX supervisor of Netflix and Upside Down Pictures’ “The Boroughs”
• Amy Astley – senior vice president of publicity/communications, creative legacy and brand strategy at Walt Disney Animation Studios
• Julie Tustin – public relations, awards and talent relations at Netflix
• Emilie Erskine – president of Erskine Public Relations
• José Urso – chief of staff, Office of the Governor
• Patrizia Polliotto – secretary general, CRT Foundation
• Rochele Gloor – assistant director for Innovation Technologies, MFA Computer Arts, School of Visual Arts
• Brooke Keesling – animation development & talent development, character animation instructor at CalArts
About VIEW Conference
An English language event, VIEW Conference 2026 takes place from October 12-16, 2026, in the stunning baroque city of Turin, Italy. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to network with award-winning film directors, animators, designers and thought leaders as they deliver an incredible program of keynotes, panels, talks, workshops and masterclasses at VIEW Conference 2026. Explore cutting-edge thinking with a stellar line-up of stars from Hollywood and Silicon Valley, celebrate the latest achievements in animation, VFX, games and AI, and share unforgettable visions of the future.
Please consider donating whatever you might be able to afford to help keep VIEW Conference going strong. No amount is too little to make a difference. Thanks for your support. You can donate while registering for this event, or by visiting the VIEW Conference website.
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